This project explores the reversible electrochemical conversion between carbon dioxide and oxalate to enable next-generation rechargeable metal–CO₂ batteries. By combining electrochemistry and in situ/operando spectroscopy, it aims to establish the fundamental basis for efficient CO₂-based energy storage.
The project “Towards Rechargeable Metal–CO₂ Batteries for Energy Storage” addresses the need for sustainable energy storage technologies that valorize captured CO₂. Conventional metal–CO₂ batteries suffer from poor reversibility due to the formation of insoluble carbonates. Recent findings indicate that promoting oxalate instead of carbonate formation markedly improves cyclability and energy efficiency.
This project aims to elucidate, at the molecular level, the mechanisms governing the electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to oxalate and its reverse oxidation to CO₂. Through a combination of electrochemical measurements, in situ and operando spectroscopies including differential electrochemical mass spectrometry, the project will identify key intermediates, rate-determining steps, and structure–activity relationships. The resulting insights will guide the design of hybrid molecular/material catalysts cacapable of achieving a truly reversible CO₂–oxalate cycle, paving the way for efficient, carbon-neutral energy storage technologies.
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